One of the senior adult female mountain Gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park,

Bwiruka has died barely three months after the oldest male, Ruhondeza of Mubare Group passed on.

She was known to be playful, friendly and even cheeky, but sadly, at the age of about 30, Bwiruka,a female gorilla has died. One of the most senior adult female mountain Gorillas of BwindiImpenetrable National Park, Bwiruka has died barely three months after the oldest male, Ruhondezapassed on.

Bwiruka, who has been a dominant female in the 34-member Nshongi family, was found dead by trackers on Monday, according to officials of Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).

A necropsy (postmortem for non-humans) is being performed to determine the cause of her deaththough UWA officials say Bwiruka, whose name in Rukiga means "one who knows how to run," hadrecently grown frail and was sighted trailing the rest of the group with difficulty.

"Bwiruka has for the last few weeks been walking and feeding with difficulty, a clear sign that shehas not been feeling well," said the Acting Chief Conservation area manager at UWA Mr CharlesTumwesigye. "She was about 30 years which is very old age for females because giving birth makesthem weaker than the males. It is very sad because her death means the number of mountain gorillashas gone down by one."

Mountain gorillas, especially the males, can live up to about 50 years in habituation while theiraverage life span in the wild is 35 years. Habituated gorillas are more closely guarded by fieldstaff and receive veterinary treatment for snares, respiratory diseases, and other life-threateningconditions.

'Favourite lady'UWA officials say during her hey days, Bwiruka was the male gorillas' favourite lady, thanks to herplayful character. She could be spotted in secret trysts with the family top males, Bweza andMishaya. "We all mourn the death of this special member of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park," MrTumwesigye said.

The gorilla trackers will miss Bwiruka just as much as her family members. The secret of Bwiruka'sappeal seemed to be her light-hearted ways given that most adult females are not given tofriskiness.

As the Nshongi Family became more accustomed to the company of the trackers, Bwiruka would be known to playfully harass men. She could set up an ambush and 'attack' the trackers, leaving them bewildered, unharmed and laughing at the fact that she had pulled a fast one on them. Bwiruka will be laid to rest in the park after the necropsy has been performed.